Dayton Administration Aims For Higher Grad Rates

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/WCCO) — The administration of Gov. Mark Dayton is vowing to shrink the number of Minnesota students who don’t graduate from high school.

Right now 23 percent of public school students do not graduate from high school in four years. Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon says Wednesday the administration wants that to be 10 percent or less by the year 2020.

“We need to seriously rethink, reform and commit our education system to ensuring that every student, at the very least, graduates from high school,” she said. “And then has the opportunity to pursue a higher education.”

It’s part of a collaboration between Minnesota and four other states to improve student achievement and get more students through high school. In Minnesota, the effort will be tied to proposals aimed at reducing the state’s achievement gap between white students and students of color.

Some lawmakers are proposing changes to state graduation standards and alternative paths to diplomas with a goal of boosting graduation rates among black, Hispanic and Asian students.